Paul Luckraft reviews ‘31st October, Destiny’s Date?’ (DVD, 2017, Heritage Resources).
This year sees two major anniversaries centred upon the date of 31 October: the centenary of the Balfour Declaration and the 500th anniversary of the start of the Reformation, when Luther presented his 95 theses to challenge the practices of the dominant Roman Catholic Church.
The value of this new DVD, presented by Kelvin Crombie, is that it links these events (and two others also on 31 October) and concludes by asking whether this is merely coincidence or whether there is an ultimate destiny behind it all.
The Significance of Beersheba
The DVD is set out in 12 chapters of varying lengths (between six and 18 minutes) and starts with a minute-long trailer (which is also the opening of chapter 1). In some ways the presentation is a slow burner with a lot of preparatory material, starting with the importance of Beersheba in Abraham’s time. For the later significance of this same geographical place we have to wait until chapter 10 - but it is well worth waiting for.
The climax of the DVD is very powerful as the drama unfolds. The mounted attack on Beersheba under General Allenby, and the War Cabinet’s deliberations on what would later be known as the ‘Balfour Declaration’ are skilfully interlinked to produce a tension that is suddenly relieved: God has been in charge all along. His purposes will not be thwarted.
As the drama unfolds, events are skilfully interlinked and the tension is ultimately relieved: God has been in charge all along and his purposes will not be thwarted.
Slices of History
Each chapter is based upon a slice of history and we are kept well informed of where we are on the timeline. The first two chapters cover the period from the time of Abraham right up to the 15th Century, picking out necessary background material. Chapter 3 (1453-1798) is the longest at 18 minutes and looks at the dynamics of change brought about by the Ottoman Empire and the Reformation.
Chapters 4 and 5 start with Napoleon’s invasion of the Holy Land (1799) and his call to the Jews to return, and conclude with the second of the four ‘31 October’ events: the arrival of Kaiser Wilhelm II into Jerusalem in 1898 to open the new German church there. The significance of this gradually unfolds in the rest of the DVD.
Chapters 6 and 7 cover the alliances being formed in the period before the First World War and the start of the War itself. Chapter 8 explains the military and political ramifications of the Dardenelles campaign and the landings at Gallipoli. Here we see the beginning of the role that Lord Balfour would play in the years to come.
Chapter 9 is an excellent presentation of the events of 1916-17 leading up to the meeting of the British War Cabinet on 31 October to consider the request of Lord Rothschild for a Jewish homeland in Palestine. But simultaneously we are constantly reminded of what is happening ‘on the ground’ there as the future of Palestine is being fought out under General Allenby. Was it coincidence that the date for the assault on Beersheba was also set for 31 October?
Chapter 10 brings both strands to their conclusion: victory at Beersheba and the chance to push on to Jerusalem, and the Declaration of the British Government concerning a Jewish homeland (2 November 1917). Each needed the other - and God ensured that both happened.
Each chapter is based upon a slice of history and we are kept well informed of where we are on the timeline.
How God Shapes History
Throughout the DVD the question is constantly posed: is it possible that the Jews could ever return to the Land as stated by Old Testament prophecies? At times it seemed impossible or at least a distant dream. By the end of the DVD we can see how God shapes history and in particular how he has kept his promises to his ancient people. We are left in no doubt that history from 1917 onwards is also under God’s direction and prophetic hand.
This DVD is highly recommended for personal edification and can also be useful for group study and discussion, though due to its length certain sections may have to be omitted and replaced by a verbal summary.
31 October, Destiny’s Date? (123 minutes) is available from Re-vived for £11.99. Also available from CFI, CMJ and on Amazon. You can also watch the trailer on Youtube.
